November Interlude: Road Closed Ahead

 

Ugh! Great, the road to Chantry Flat is closed. It was only after seeing the sign that something clicked in my brain and I remembered that I had seen something about that a long while back. Fortunately the little foothills city of Sierra Madre has no lack of trailheads heading up into the mountains. Since big Santa Anita Canyon was out, and we had just recently hiked Little Santa Anita Canyon we went, instead, to Bailey Canyon. Admittedly we had done that hike in the spring, so fairly recently as well but, if nothing else, it would be interesting to see what it was like in a different season.

March was wet. March was really wet, and the mrs. didn't think she could make it up the little side canyon to the waterfall - I did, but it was definitely wet going. After that quick side trip, we turned around and went up the main trail to the cabin ruins. All well and fine, but the mrs. always regretted not seeing the waterfall - so that is were this hike went and, though the waterfall was only a trickle of its former, Spring self it was still pretty unique to see water flowing there after a usual long dry summer.

It being Veterans Day weekend, there were many more people, including tons of little kiddos on the trail, in fact at one point, where the trail passes through a turnstile, the foot traffic came to a standstill as the little ones in the big group just ahead of us, rode it round and around like an amusement park ride - all in a day's fun and adventure. Anyway, for the most part the groups with kids only went as far as the nature trail across the bridge, while everyone else continued on. At the next trail junction we hung a left for the waterfall, and were the only ones to do so. Needless to say, it wasn't much of a hike at all, but we filled it out by walking around the street of Sierra Madre - we've always liked the charm and uniqueness of the little town, and probably spot something new every time we visit. Enjoy the time on two wheels this weekend, but if you can, carve out a little extra doing something else you like to do.